What are the responsibilities and job description for the Ground Vehicle Engineer and PM position at The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University?
We are searching for a R&D Engineer (ARL) – Mechanical Engineer Senior Professional & R&D Engineer (ARL) to join The Vehicle Investigation & Cybersecurity Department within the Applied Sustainment Technologies Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. We are seeking a senior technical and operational leader to drive sponsor engagement, guide ground vehicle sustainment research, and strengthen ARL’s relationships across the DoD. This role will support the division’s mission to advance next‑generation sustainment technologies, readiness analytics, vehicle systems resilience, and cyber‑secure maintenance capabilities.
The ideal candidate brings deep operational expertise in military ground vehicle operations, direct experience with sustainment engineering, and a track record of shaping, growing, and maintaining sponsor relationships in defense R&D.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead business development and sponsor engagement for vehicle sustainment and cybersecurity research portfolios.
- Maintain and expand strategic relationships with DoD stakeholders, especially within the USMC, Army, and joint logistics communities.
- Provide subject‑matter expertise on military ground vehicle operations, sustainment processes, and enabling IT systems.
- Shape research directions by translating operational sustainment challenges into actionable R&D objectives.
- Support and guide project teams in vehicle investigation, readiness analytics, cyber‑secure maintenance operations, and related technologies.
- Mentor staff in sponsor engagement, program execution, and operational sustainment concepts.
- Serve as an advisor on DoD acquisition pathways and requirements processes relevant to sustainment technologies.
- Contribute to proposal development, program planning, and strategic road‑mapping for ASTD.
Required Skills/Experience areas include:
Required Qualifications
- Senior NCO, Warrant Officer, or Commissioned Officer experience within U.S. military Engineer, Motor Transport, or Ordnance communities.
- Previous service as a U.S. Marine Corps logistics officer or comparable operational logistics role.
- Demonstrated understanding of the DoD acquisition process, including requirements development and sustainment integration.
- Comprehensive knowledge of ground vehicle operations, including both vehicle systems and associated IT/logistics support systems.
- Professional experience in automotive maintenance, sustainment engineering, or vehicle lifecycle management.
- Proven track record of developing and maintaining sponsor relationships in defense R&D environments.
Ability to clearly communicate complex sustainment challenges and technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:
Desired Qualifications
• Experience supporting or advising R&D organizations on vehicle sustainment technologies.
• Familiarity with cyber considerations for vehicle systems, maintenance processes, or diagnostic tools.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and guiding research portfolios.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, logistics, or related field (military equivalent experience also considered).
Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required